The end of bacon?

Pork prices rising, pig herds declining, says pig association.

In what must be a sure sign of an impending apocalypse, a pork shortage is predicted for next year.

Britain's National Pig Association (NPA) says that pig herds are declining at a significant rate around the world. The association says the shortage is "unavoidable," due to high pig feed costs, "caused by the global failure of maize and soya harvests," according to an association press release.

The Guardian reports that the cost of bacon has doubled since 2006 because of droughts in the U.S. Prices for pork are expected to increase substantially during the next year, according to the NPA.

It's a widely accepted fact that everything tastes better with bacon, but if the NPA is correct, we might have to make do without. Does this mean the end of bacon-flavored everything—here's looking at you bacon ice cream? Will we move on to even tastier renditions? Perhaps it's time to stock up and freeze some now before eating bacon becomes yet another luxury for those with money.

City officials are weighing changes to school menus less than one year after earlier changes drew parent criticism. Officials say those menu changes were not final, and an advisory board is suggesting healthier, fresher dishes and a more expansive in-class breakfast program.